How to Cope With Salivary Gland Cancer

Salivary gland cancer is cancer of the tissues in your mouth that produce saliva. While salivary gland cancer is rare (3 adults out of 100 thousand being diagnosed with the disease), it is often hard to deal with, as is coping after treatment.

Instructions

• 1

  Find a good support group or person. Sometimes people diagnosed with cancer can get depressed and withdraw from family and friends. Having a solid sounding board to air your worries or your anger can help.

• 2

  Manage the side effects of treatment. Radiation, chemotherapy and even surgery to remove the cancer can take a toll on a person, both physically and emotionally. Knowing what to expect from treatment can help you prepare.

• 3

  Acknowledge the fear of a recurring tumor. Even with treatment, cancer can return. By staying well informed of your progress and getting regular check ups, you can keep on top of your condition and take early measures if a tumor should return.

• 4

  Seek rehabilitation after treatment. Rehabilitation, especially if the tumor was removed by surgery, is a key part in follow up cancer care. In some cases, a person may need physical therapy to regain complete skills again, such as swallowing and speaking.

• 5

  Quit smoking. Smoking during treatment often decreases the effectiveness and in some cases, it can make the treatment side effects worse. Even though some people use smoking as a calming effect, in this case, it's best to turn to others for support instead of nicotine.